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Car Forum / Nissan / Nissan Cars / November 2005Brake light and battery light now on all the time.
I have a 96 Hardbody pickup and just yesterday the Brake light and the Battery light came on. All seems well with the truck though. Any ideas why this is? Time for a new alternator... Nirav > Time for a new alternator... > > Nirav Yep Why would an alternator problem cause the brake light to come on? And the Battery light could also be the voltage regulator. Or a loose fan belt. Or a bad connection at the alternator or voltage regulator. The Battery light indicates that you running the truck off the battery. SOMETHING is causing the alternator to not put out enough juice. If the lights start to look dim, get it home pronto. Carry jumper cables. If you end up stranded, you might be able to put enough charge on from the other car to get you home. Now the brake light: Could be the sensor, could be the wiring. You'll need the manual to find the sensors. There's probably one that measures pressure differenential between front and rear circuits, one that tells you the hand brake is on, and maybe some more, perhaps related to ABS. You can generally disconnect them without causing harm. I had a truck where you could disconnect all the brake sensors and the light would still come on in long right-hand corners. I presume the wiring was chafed through somewhere and grounding to the body, but I'll be durned if I could ever find it. It's not safety issue because the short to gound is current limited by the light bulb. Check the voltage at the battery with a >> Time for a new alternator... >> >> Nirav > > Yep > Why would an alternator problem cause the brake light to come on? > [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] >> >> Yep I think when both lights come on it is code for an alternator problem. I read that somewhere and I wanted to check with people who might know something. I looked at it today and right above the alternator is a small hose which I believe has antifreeze in it. It is leaking at the clamp and there is a slow drip right on the wire connector on the alternator. I think that is what damaged my alternator. I'm glad I saw it now before the hose completely cracked. I can't complain though. 120,000 miles later and the truck runs fantastic without any majore repairs. Thank for the help all. The slippery antifreeze could very easily be causing the belt to slip. Fix the leak, then hose it all down with fresh water and let it dry. If that doesn't fix it, try some belt dressing to increase the traction. >>>> Time for a new alternator... >>>> [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > 120,000 miles later and the truck runs fantastic without any majore > repairs. Thank for the help all. > The slippery antifreeze could very easily be causing the belt to slip. Wouldn't make the light come on with a nissan. > Fix the leak, then hose it all down with fresh water and let it dry. > If that doesn't fix it, try some belt dressing to increase the traction. Then go buy a new belt to replace the one ruined by putting "dressing" on it and replace the alternator..  SignatureSteve http://www.atlantaracing.com Because of the antilock brakes. The controller has likely detected a voltage problem. You are right that it could be anything related to the alternator, but it usually is the alt itself. Or maybe a coincidence, but again, most likely a failing alternator. -jim > Why would an alternator problem cause the brake light to come on? > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] >> >>Yep I had a Sentra with the same problem (was the alternator). The reason they both come on, looking at the wiring diagram (from memory--not going to dig it out again for this) is a diode miswired into the system. Diodes are usually used in a bank of lights, where you want one power source to light up all the lights (like when you first turn your key, but don't start your engine), but will cause each individual light to come one separately from an alternate source of power (provided in a makfunction). I don't know why they stay with that circuit, but they do. Jim > Why would an alternator problem cause the brake light to come on? > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] >> >>Yep It very well may be the alternator, but check the belt tension first. I had the same lights come on and it was a loose belt. > Why would an alternator problem cause the brake light to come on? because Nissan wires their cars this way. > And the Battery light could also be the voltage regulator. So? It's internal so you have to replace the alternator anyway. > Or a loose fan > belt. Nope, the alternator light doesn't come on unless the alternator stops working, a slipping belt won't trigger the light. > Or a bad connection at the alternator or voltage regulator. Nope, a bad connection would make the light NOT come on. > The Battery light indicates that you running the truck off the battery. > SOMETHING is causing the alternator to not put out enough juice. A dead alternator. > Now the brake light: Could be the sensor, could be the wiring. It's the alternator.. > You'll > need the > manual to find the sensors. There's probably one that measures pressure > differenential between front and rear circuits, Nope.. > You can generally disconnect them without > causing harm. LOL! SignatureSteve http://www.atlantaracing.com
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